Speech & Language Development Tips For Bilingual Children

During early childhood, children have a special ability to learn multiple languages simultaneously. For families raising bilingual children, the important thing is to know how to help them develop both languages effectively and create solid foundations in each.

The journey of rearing a bilingual child brings along its very unique challenges and opportunities but with the right approach and by following these speech and language development tips for bilingual children, parents can help their kids develop native-like proficiency in both languages…

Be Consistent

Consistency in language exposure is a key principle in bilingual language development. It is important for parents to set clear language boundaries and adhere to them. A popular and successful strategy is the “one parent, one language” method, where each parent consistently speaks their native language to the child.

This promotes the development of separate language systems in children and minimizes language confusion. For example, if one parent communicates in Spanish and the other in English, they should consistently stick to these language roles when interacting with their child.

Create Balance

Having a diverse range of language exposure in both languages is essential for successful bilingual development. This includes providing children with plenty of books, music, videos, and other forms of media. Reading to the child in both languages on a daily basis helps expand their vocabulary, improve their grammar and narrative skills, and fosters a passion for reading and learning.

Parents should work to ensure that both languages are equally valued and utilized in the child’s daily life to prevent one language from becoming dominant over the other.

Be Sociable

Having meaningful social interactions with a variety of people is essential for children to acquire language skills. This can include activities such as playdates, attending cultural events, or having regular video calls with family members who speak the minority language. Through these interactions, children come to understand that both languages are valuable for communication and building relationships with others.

Be Patient

Parents should also be aware that bilingual children may experience a period of mixing languages or reach certain language milestones later than monolingual children. This phenomenon is known as code-switching and is a normal, albeit temporary, part of language development.

This indicates that the child is not confused, but rather gaining the ability to navigate between two language systems. As children develop proficiency in both languages, they learn to differentiate between them and use each one in appropriate situations.

Be Immersive

Special attention and additional effort are dedicated to promoting the minority language, which has the lowest presence in the community. Parents have the option to enhance language immersion by enrolling their children in weekend language schools, cultural classes, or organizing extended visits to a country where the minority language is commonly spoken.

Parents can also utilize technology to help children learn a new language by using language learning apps, participating in online storytime, or enrolling them in virtual language exchange programs.

Don’t Show A Preference

It is important to maintain a positive attitude towards both languages and avoid showing preference for one over the other. Children are very perceptive about language attitudes and can quickly pick up on which language is prioritized in their environment.

As a result, children will be able to cultivate positive emotions around their bilingual identity by ensuring that both cultures and languages are honored equally, ultimately preserving both languages.

Don’t Lose The Fun

Parents should create pleasure in language learning and not press for perfection. Games, songs, rhymes, and movement activities make language learning both fun and natural for children.

Engaging in activities like cooking together and playing word games while incorporating both languages can help children seamlessly incorporate language learning into their daily routines.

Manage Expectations

Adjust your expectations based on the child’s age. Every child learns language at their own pace, so it’s not helpful to compare them to monolingual or other bilingual children.

When placed in a new language environment, some children experience a silent period, during which they listen and comprehend the new language before beginning to speak. This is a common stage of language acquisition.

Support Literacy And Language

There is a specific emphasis on bilingual development and the importance of writing and literacy skills. It is recommended that parents actively support their children’s literacy development in both languages by engaging in regular reading and writing activities at home, especially during formal education.

This could involve maintaining a diary in both languages, writing letters to family members, or creating story books in both languages. Nevertheless, the formal instruction of literacy should be done gradually, beginning with one language before introducing the second language after some initial exposure to prevent confusing the child.

Invest In Technology

Technology can be a helpful tool when put to proper use. Online educational apps, videos, and other resources such as online speech therapy, can complement face-to-face interactions and provide additional language contact.

On the other hand, it is important to limit screen time and, when feasible, encourage interactive participation rather than passive watching.

Maintain Motivation

As individuals get older, they may experience a decrease in motivation to use both languages, particularly as peer pressure and social dynamics come into play.

Parents can support bilingualism by fostering environments in which both languages are essential and beneficial, like staying connected with relatives who speak the minority language or engaging in cultural events that require its use.

Create A Support Network

Having a support system of other bilingual families can provide motivation and helpful tips throughout the journey of raising bilingual children.

This is a place for children to practice language skills, exchange cultures, share resources and experiences. It also helps children see that being bilingual is a normal and valuable trait.

The cognitive benefits of bilingualism extend beyond language skills. Research shows that bilingual children often demonstrate enhanced executive function, better problem-solving abilities, and greater cultural awareness.

Recognizing these advantages can assist parents in remaining dedicated to fostering their child’s bilingual growth, even in the midst of obstacles. Successfully raising bilingual children entails having patience, maintaining consistency, and adopting a long-term mindset.

Investing in maintaining two languages during childhood reaps lifelong rewards, including increased cultural awareness, improved cognitive skills, and expanded career prospects.

Children can build strong foundations in both languages with dedicated support and effective strategies, allowing them to confidently navigate various linguistic and cultural environments.